Microtomes



March 25, 1952 Q SANGER 2,590,725

' MICROTOMES Filed Aug. 25. 1949 fi- @f I w INVENTORE @r T0 S a/V55 MQKW,

HTTQR y Patented Mar. 25, 1952 MICROTOMES Otto Sanger, Wetzlar, Germany, assignor to Ernst Leitz, G. m. b. H., Wetzlar, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application August 23, 1949, Serial No. 111,784 In Germany April 25, 1949 .7 Claims.

This invention relates to microtomes, and more particularly to improved conduit means for supplying a cooling fluid to the stage of a microtome.

Microtomesare used for the cutting of minute sections of various objects, such as organic tissues, for subsequent microscopic examination, and it is frequently found advantageous to freeze such objects before cutting. Heretofore, the cooling fluid conduit and the valve regulating the flow of the cooling fluid from a supply source to the cutting platform formed part of the stage of such microtomes. This arrangement has considerable disadvantages since it necessitates the replacement of the entire complex unit with each object and requires that the conduit which is part of the stage be disconnected from and the conduit of the' newly emplaced stage be connected with the supply source of the cooling fluid. The known microtome arrangement thus comprises a complicated stage construction which is particularly cumbersome when objects have to be carried on the stage from a distant place. It also requires a time interval for connecting the conduit of each stage to the cooling fluid supply source which may be in excess of that safely permissible under delicate working conditions.

In accordance with the present invention, ther is provided a microtome comprising a stand, a removable stage adapted to be cooled, and cooling fluid conduit means in the stand and leading to the stage to be cooled.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a microtome with a removable stage which may be cooled automatically upon placing it in the microtome stand.

' It is another object of this invention to provide a simply constructed stage for microtomes which can be handled and replaced in the microtome without difficulty or delay.

-It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved and simplified conduit system for supplying a cooling fluid to the stage of a microtome.

Another object of the invention is to provide an economical microtome apparatus having a conduit system for supplying a cooling fluid in its stand,-therinstrument being adapted for use with any number of different stages which connect automatically with the conduit system of the stand.

The above objects and advantages of the invention may be accomplished by providing a, microtome comprising a stand with conduit means for a cooling fluid connected to any desired source thereof, a hollow space in the stand and in communication with the cooling fluid conduit, said space being adapted to receive'the stage of the microtome, and a, regulating valve in the conduit means for regulating the. cooling fluid flow. The cooling fluid, generally CO2, may be supplied from any suitable container and reaches the stage table to be cooled through conduit channels of relatively narrow cross section, entering a relatively large space immediately below the stage table whereby the suddenly expanded gas is cooled considerably.

- form. Automatic means for registering the two conduits upon insertion of the stage in the stand may also be provided. In order to facilitate horizontal adjustment of the stage platform, the platform may be journaled in its base by means of a ball and socket joint, the joint being provided with an axial bore of larger diameter than the diameter of the conduit means in the base whereby the conduit means remains in communication with the cooling chamber when said platform and chamber are tilted in said joint.

The above and other features, objects and advantages oi the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of a now preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which is given merely as an illustration and not as a limitation upon the scope of the invention, and in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through a part of a microtome constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown microtome stage 2 carried by fixed stand 3 upon which there is mounted vertically adjustable sliding carriage 4 and horizontally adjustable sliding carriage 5. Carriage 5 is provided with a connecting element 6 (see Fig. 2) which is-attached to cooling fluid supply line 1. The latter supply line leads to a supply source (not shown) of a suitable cooling fluid, such as carbon dioxide.

. conveniently handled.

for instance, for receiving directly organic tis- Carriage has a borehole 9 which communicates withsupply line 7 by means of channel 8. The latter carriage also has a slot 23 extending on both sides of the borehole. A screw 2| passes throughsaid slot whereby, upon turning of the screw, the slot and borehole 9 may be suitably tightened. Handle 22 serves to lock the horizontal carriage in any desired position. Borehole 9 is provided with longitudinal groove in. A valve ll' regulates the flow of the cooling fluid from channel 8 to borehole 9 and is operated by adjusting lever l2.

Stage 2 is mounted on cylindrical base l3 which has a longitudinal bore I4 ending in an enlarged opening [5 in the wall of the base. Base I3 is ground to fit accurately into borehole9 and is provided with guide pin l6 fitting into groove and assuring automatic registration of the conduit means upon insertion of the stage in the standas willbe more fully explained hereinafter.

The bottom. of cooling chamber I1 is exteriorly formed as hemisphere l8 and is attached-to the lyground.

The stage of the microtome according to this invention is of simple construction and can be It may be readily used,

suesobtained from a patient undergoing an opv eration, and to transport'the said tissues placed on the stage. directly to themicrotome without having to transfer the tissues.

Theoperation of such a microtome i equally simple: base I3 is merely inserted in borehole 9 and by means of guide pin l6 and groove lflthe conduit means l4, l5 of the base is automatically registered with conduit means 8, I in the stand. the regulating valve ll being'provided at the juncture. The base is then clamped into-the boresholelby means of screw 2! and cooling is initiated byopening valve H by means of lever l2,-where- .by'th cooling fluid will enter the conduit means I5, I4 and cooling chamber H. The vertically and horizontally adjustable carriages 4'and 5,'as

well as ball and socket joint I8, i9, 20, serveto position the object to be cut in respect to the cutting tool (not shown).

While the invention has been described with v.refererlmeto a preferred embodiment shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that the same has been given for purposes of illustration only and not as a. limitation upon the spirit and'scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. What is claimed is; .1. In aimicrotome, the combination of a support having a-vertically disposed elongated bore, said support having a cooling fluid supply passageway communicating with said bore at a point intermediate the ends'of the latter, and said bore being provided with a vertically disposed groove extending longitudinally of said bore and being inspaced relation to the mouth of said passageway, a removable stage having a coolin chamber and includinga stem slidably receivable in said lower end in the exterior surface of said stem between theupper and lower ends of such stem, the entry opening of said stem passageway and said plug being. so positioned on said stem, that when said'stem and lug are slidably inserted in said bore and groove, respectively, the entry opening having an elongated bore, said support having a cooling fluid supply passageway with a discharge opening in the surface of such bore at a point intermediate the ends of said bore, a removable stage having a cooling chamber and including a stem slidably receivable in said bore, a fluid passageway in saidstem communicating at one end with said chamber and having at its other end an. entry Opening in the exterior surface of said stem between the ends thereof, and detachable interlocking guide means on said support and stem for guiding such entry opening into registry with such discharge opening when said stem is slidably inserted'into said'bore tob'ring'said supply passageway into communication with's'aid stem passageway, and means for detachably securing said stern on said support with the pas sageways in communication.

3. In a microtome, the combination of a support having an elongated bore and havinga cooling fluid supply passageway with a discharge opening in the surface of said bore at a point intermediate-the ends of said bore, a removable stage having a cooling chamber and including a stem slidably receivable in said bore, a fluid passageway in said stem communicating at one end with said chamber and having at its other end an entry opening in the exterior surface of said stem between the ends thereof; a guide member on said stem and a-guide member within said bore, said guide members being detachably interlockable to guide the sliding movement of said stem within said bore to bring such entry opening'into registry with such discharge opening and thereby to bring said supply passageway into communication with said stem passageway, and meansfor detachably'securing said stem on said support with the passageways in communication.

4. In a microtome, the combination of a support having an elongated bore and having a cooling fluid supply passageway with a discharge opening in the surface of said bore at a point intermediate the ends of said bore, a removable stage having a cooling chamber and including a stem slidably receivable in said bore, a fluid passageway in said stem communicating at one end with said chamber and having at its other end an entry opening in the exterior surface of said stem between the ends thereof; detachable interlocking guide. means on said supporttand stem for guiding the sliding movement of said stem into said bore to bring such entry opening into registry with such discharge opening and thereby to bring said supply passageway into communication with said stem passageway, means for detachably securing said stem on said support with the passageways in communication, valve means in said support adjacent to the discharge opening and controlling the flow of fluid from said supply passageway through such discharge'o'pening, and means operable to control said valve passageway in said stem communicating at one end. with said chamber and having at its other end an entry opening in the exterior surface of said stem between the ends thereof, said entry opening having a greater area than the crosssectional area of said stem passageway, being elongated and extending longitudinally of said stem, detachable interlocking guide means on said support and stem for guiding the sliding movement of said stem into said bore to bring such elongated entry opening into registry with such discharge opening and thereby to bring said supply passageway into communication with said stem passageway, and means for detachably securing said stem on said support with the passageways in communication.

6. In a microtome, the combination of a support having an elongated bore and having a cooling fluid supply passageway with a discharge opening in the surface of said bore at a point intermediate the ends of said bore, means supporting said support for adjustable movement along a straight path, means supporting said support and said first mentioned means for adjustable movement along a path at right angles to said straight path, means for securing said support in adjusted position, a removable stage having a cooling chamber, and including a stem slidably receivable in said bore, a fluid passageway in said stem communicating at one end with said chamber and having at its other end an entry opening in the exterior surface of said stem between the ends thereof, detachable interlocking guide means on said support and stem for guiding the sliding movement of said stem into said bore to bring such entry opening into registry with such discharge opening and thereby to bring said supply passageway into communication with said stem passageway, and

means for detachably securing said stem on said support with the passageways in communication.

7. In a microtome, the combination of a support having an elongated bore and having a cooling fluid supply passageway with a discharge opening in the surface of said bore at a point intermediate the ends of said bore, a removable stage unit including a stem slidably receivable in said bore and provided at its upper end with a concave seat, a stage having a convex seating surface seated in said concave seat and having a cooling chamber provided with an opening in said convex seating surface, and means for securing said stage on said stem seat, a fluid passageway in said stem communicating at its upper end with the opening of said chamber and having at its other end an entry opening in the exterior surface of said stem between the ends thereof, detachable interlocking guide means on said support and stem for guiding the sliding movement of said stem into said bore to bring such entry opening into registry with such discharge opening and thereby to bring said supply passageway into communication with said stem passageway, and means for detachably securing said stem on said support with the passageways to communication.

o'r'ro SANGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,343,051 Gosline June 8, 1920 2,212,953 Popp et al Aug. 27, 1940 2,292,973 Richards Aug. -11, 1942 

